The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-01
WHITE SLAVES.
Some Facts in Colonial History with Which
All Americans Are Not Familiar.


aware that in the last century white men,
women and children were held in bondage; that
the colonial laws in favor of such servitude were
as explicit and severe were those in support
of negro slavery Such white persons owing a
personal service to individual masters were gen.
orally known as term slaves" though their ie-
gal status was represented by the word
.redem ptioner."
Casper Berger was one of this class. He had
reached New York in the year 1744, and. being
sold by the captain of his shin, which he had
sailed from Rotterdam, to repay the costs of
passage was purchased for a term OF years Dv
Cornelius Van Horne. ESQ.,, of White House, IN
Hunterdon county. n. j. The descendants o,
Berger affirm that his emigration from the old
country was involuntary, he, with others, hav-
ing been enticed aboard a ship by Its
captain. who then set sail for America
This is not improbable, as the masters OF
vessels were often guilty of cruel and unjust
acts in this business of the Importation of re-
demptioners. Isaac Weld. ir.. in his book OF
travels in America. published in the last GEN.
fury, asserts that il the custom OF ship
masters at Rotterdam and the Hanse Towns to
lnveigle the people on their vessels, under prom
Use of free passage to America. On reaching the
colonies announcement of the arrival of mocha an
les and laborers would be made, and persons in
want of such help would flock to the ships. and
the poor Germans would be sold to the highest
bidders, the CAPTAINS pocketing the proceeds.
Caspar Berger, after obtaining his freedom.
prospered IN the new country. and by his indus
try and frugality soon waxed wel-to- During
the Revolution he kept prominent tavern in
Hunterdon county, and at his death, in 1917, he
divided between his three a fine farm of
four hundred acres.
REDEEM ptioners constituted in the early part of
the eighteenth century a peculiar feature of
colonial society. They were recruited from
among all manner of people in the old world,
and through this channel Europe emptied upon
America not only the virtuous and op-
pressed of her population but the vagrants,
felons, and the dregs of her communities There
was thus established among the first settlers
society that. in many places was almost imbued
with moral pestience. Among the redemp-
sturdy souls. strong in purpose and endeavor.
who appreciated the great opportunity created
for them by this complete change of life and
country. At the expiration of their term of
service, many, by thrift and industry, elevated
themselves to respectable positions. and were
absorbed in the middle class.
There were two kinds of redemptoners, sin
denied servants" who had bound themselves TO
their masters for term of years, previous To
leaving the old country, and free wilers." who,
being without money and DESTROYS OF emigrat-
ing, agreed with the captains of ships to allow
themselves or their families to be sold ara
rival for the captains advantage, and thus
pay costs OF passage and other expenses. The
former-indeLted servants-were often trapped
into their engagements by corrupt agents at
home, who persuaded them all under false
promises of tender and humane treatment, and
assurances of remunerative employment at ex-
piration of service, which would insure a compe-
tent provision for the remainder of their days.
The emigrants often discovered on arrival that
the advantages to be obtained in America had
colors. Frequently their masters forced them
to most rigid labor, and exercised unnecessary
severity. Edward Eddis, surveyor of customs
in the province of Maryland, in his Letters
from America asserts that this class of servants
often groaned beneath a worse than Egyptian
bondage; their masters, knowing that their
servitude could last but few years, treated
them with rigor more severe than they ex-
tended to their negro slaves, to whom, being act
ual property, they were lenient, that their
health and lives might be preserved.
he frQo-y will avs tina
at the hands of ship-masters and agents. They
were led to believe that arrival in America,
their services would be eagerly solicited by per-
sons who would gladly pay the cost of their pas
saces. which being only go. the emigrants would
soon be able to repay, and thus secure their lib
erty and all the enio ment and prosperity that
the new country offered to adventures. Agree
ments were entered into whereby these deluded
ones bound themselves, that if. on arrival, they
did not succeed within a certain number of days
in securing employment on their own terms,
they could be sold for term of years to defray
tho charges for their passages. Alas, the free
willers," with rare exceptions, had rude awak-
ening reaching the colonies. Under their
agreements the captain had legal lien on the
persons of the emigrants until the
ship charges were paid; consequently they
were not allowed to go shore but
were exposed to view deck to the people who
came on board il search of servants. Except in
cases of extraordinary qualifications, very few
of them we're happy enough to make their
stipulations and they found themselves sold for
several years of tedious toll and servitude.
Professor Kahn, the Swedish botanist. reached
Philadelphia the 7th of September, 174S. on
the ship Mary, which had on board twenty
three Germans and their families. He narrates
that when about going ashore with his captain,
the latter turned TO his second mate and strictly
charged him ito let one of the German refu-
gees out of the ship unless he paid his passage,
Dr. somebody else paid for him bought him."
Masters of vessels often acted with needless
cruelty toward their bond passengers. Published
accounts of travels in America, during the last
frequently tell sad stories of the en-
forced separation of husbands from wives and
parents from children.
The terms and conditions of service differed
in the different colonies Among the archives
Of the Pen nsylvania Historical Society some
original bonds, or agreements. between ship
captains and redemptioners. From them we
learn that the usual price PAID in that colony
for three years service was Ell Is and Cd
When his time had expired man was entitled
20 receive two suits of clothes, grubbing hoe
\ wedding hoe. and new Children sold
or from eight to ten pounds, and their masters
we're required to see that they were taught to
read and write, and had at least ne-quarter's
schooling.
In New Jersey-according to 'Leamiug and
Spicer"-no white servant, if sold. bound,
after seventeen years of age. could serve above
our years. If under that age, they were be
rec on reaching their majority. At the expira-
ion OF service their masters were obliged to sup
,ly them with two good suits of clothing. suita-
de for servant, one good felliDg-ax, good
ZOE, and seven bushels of Indian corn. Aservant
vas to be Immediately freed in case of being so
Ibused by master or mistress to result in the
oss of eye tooth. The laws against aid
ng redemptioners to escape were very severe. A
inc of 45 was imposed for offering assistance in
ucE cases. and the alder and abettor was obliged
% make full satisfaction to master or mistress for
III loss damage or cost sustained by the absence
If. search for, the runaway. Any who
concealed or entertained absconding redemp-
Toner could be fined at the discretion of the
court. and be made to pay ten shillirgs to the
,wner for each day he lad harbored the
ervant.
A LUCKY vERMONTER.
How Vergennes JeweIer Cleared $780,